The Farmingdale PAL Flames remain the hottest team in the toughest conference in the junior division of the Nassau County PAL girls lacrosse league with a three win, no lose, one tie record which keeps them in first place.

Last Thursday evening, the Manhasset Blue team came all the way to Farmingdale to make up a rained out game and returned home an 11 to 5 loser. The Farmingdale girls played a great lacrosse game led by their fabulous goaltender, Diana Beltrani. The Flames outplayed Manhasset in the first quarter after Patricia Santorelli's game opening goal, but still the score was tied at one apiece at the end of the first quarter due to poor Farmingdale shot selection.

It was Heather Hoglund who got the Flames started in the second half with a quick move to goal and a strong hard bounce shot. The Flames continued their strong play throughout the quarter led by their two centers and tri-captains, Kate Hogan and Meg Fanning. They both dominated the draws all game long keeping the ball in Farmingdale sticks. In the second quarter, Hogan had one of her three goals, as well as her one assist, while Fanning had one of her two assists to spur Farmingdale to a 4-3 half-time lead.

The second half saw superior Farmingdale play finally put Manhasset away. Lauren Cohen had all three of her goals in the third quarter to put her team ahead 7-4 going into the fourth quarter. Cohen received two outstanding passes from Fanning on two of those goals. On one of those passes, Fanning found Cohen at the top of the 8 meter arc and as Cohen cut toward goal she was fouled by a Manhasset defender. On the subsequent 8 meter free position shot Cohen scored on a good bounce shot.

In the fourth quarter, Farmingdale outscored Manhasset 4-1 with tri-captains Kathleen O'Malley and Kate Hogan both scoring two of their three goals. Wing Jessica Miller made a heads up pass to O'Malley to open the fourth quarter scoring.

Defensively, there is no finer team in the league than the Flames, coaches have noted. Time and time again, the defense stifled Manhasset scoring attempts with outstanding defensive double teams by defenders Jennifer Ryan, Jenna Principato, Lisa Dunne, Samantha Lyons, Lauren Cohen and Monica Daniels helped by the wings and centers. These girls also did a great job getting loose balls in their defensive zone and clearing them successfully up field. On one play, Jen Ryan went after a loose ball behind her net, scooped it up on the run without missing a step, and cleared the ball up the right side. Samantha Lyons also had a nice assist in the fourth quarter while playing attack.

The victory was a total team victory again. Good team defense and passing were exemplified by Meg White on a play, where she smartly stepped in front of a Manhasset break out pass and quickly found Laura Canizio on the wing with an accurate pass. Canizio then got an assist by getting the ball into Cohen's stick for a Flames goal. Andrea McDonough and Vicki Fanslow, as usual, played strongly offensively and defensively in the midfield.

The key to the Farmingdale victory for the second game in a row was the outstanding goal play by Diana Beltrani. She repeatedly stopped some superior shots by Manhasset and ended up with a dozen saves. On at least three or four of those Manhasset shots Beltrani absolutely robbed Manhasset shooters of goals. On one of those saves Beltrani quickly went after a rebound to the side of her goal, scooped up the loose ball, and started the successful clear.